לערב ראש השנה 19

לט. שם המחבר חתום מרדכי.

The following prayer was composed by Rabbi Mordechai.

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ

Our God and God of our fathers!

מְפַלְּטִי אֵלִי צוּרִי

My God Who is my savior and my strong rock

סִתְרִי וּמָגִנִּי.

my Protector and my Shield

וְקֶרֶן יִשְׁעִי מִשְֹגַּבִּי

my Salvation¹Lit. the horn of my salvation. He fights against my enemies as an ox who gores with its horn as it attacks. and my Assurance,

בְּיוֹם צַר־לִי וְאוֹנִי.

during my times of trial and pain.

הִשְׁכַּמְתִּי לְחַלּוֹתְךָ

I wake up early to pray unto You,

מֶלֶךְ רָב.

O Great King,

וַאֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה

and unto You, Adonoy

שִׁוַּעְתִּי בַּבֹּקֶר:

I cry in the morning.

בֹּקֶר רַחֵם תִּזְכֹּר

In the morning remember to have mercy

חֶסֶד אַבְרָהָם

in the merit of Abraham’s kindness,

אָב אֵיתָנַי.

the first patriarch of “the strong ones,”

אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתּוֹ

the one whom You chose

וְהֶאֱמִין בְּךָ

and who trusted in You,

רֹאשׁ לְמַאֲמִינַי.

the first of all believers.

זְכֹר בְּרִיתוֹ

Remember his covenant with You

וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מִטֻּמְאָתִי.

and deliver me from my sins.

יְהֹוָה בֹּקֶר תִּשְׁמַע קוֹלִי

Adonoy, listen this morning to my voice,

בֹּקֶר:

to my prayer of the morning.

בֹּקֶר דִּבַּרְתָּ עִמּוֹ

In the morning You spoke with him²Abraham.

וְנִסִּיתוֹ לְשַׁלֵּם לוֹ מַשְֹכֹּרֶת.

and tested him in order to reward him

וְכָרוֹת עִמּוֹ הַבְּרִית

and You made a covenant with him

לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת.

to serve as a protector for him.

אֲהַבְתּוֹ וְרָצִיתוֹ

You loved him and wanted him

וְקִבַּלְתּוֹ כִּקְטֹרֶת סַמִּים

and accepted him like the incense

בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר:

that was brought each morning.

בֹּקֶר כּוֹכְבוֹ הֵאִיר

When the morning star shone,

כְּחָפַצְתָּ לְהַרְאוֹת

when You wished to show

צִדְקָתוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה.

his great rightousness,

נִסִּיתוֹ בָּעֲשִֹירִי

You tested him a tenth time

וַתֹּאמֶר־לוֹ קַח־נָא אֶת בִּנְךָ

and said to him: Take your son,

וְאַל־תִּכְלָא.

and do not hesitate,

עַל־אַחַד הֶהָרִים

to one of the mountains

וְהַעֲלֵהוּ שָׁם לְעוֹלָה.

and bring him there as a burnt offering

אֶת־הַכֶּבֶשֹ אֶחָד

just as the sheep that

תַּעֲשֶֹה בַבֹּקֶר:

you bring as a sacrifice in the morning.

בֹּקֶר יִחַד שִׁמְךָ

In the morning he singularized Your Name

וְשָׁמַע לְקוֹלֶךָ

and harkened to Your voice

וְהֶרְאָה אַהֲבָתוֹ.

and manifested his love

וְשָֹשֹ בְּכָל־לֵב

while rejoicing whole-heartedly

עַל אִמְרָתְךָ לַעֲשֹוֹתוֹ.

to fulfill Your command.

הָאַהֲבָה קִלְקְלָה הַשּׁוּרָה

His love made him transcend normalcy

וַיָּקָם בְּשִֹמְחָתוֹ.

by rising with joy.

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר:

And Abraham rose early in the morning.

בֹּקֶר הֵכִינוּ לִבָּם שְׁנֵיהֶם

In the morning both readied their hearts

לַעֲשֹוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ אָיוֹם.

to do Your will, O awesome One.

הַבֵּן לָקַח עֵצִים

The son took the wood

וְהָאָב לָקַח מַאֲכֶלֶת

and the father took the knife

לִשְׁחֹט בְּלִי פִדְיוֹם.

to slaughter without intending to redeem him.

קְרוּאִים

They were summoned

וְהוֹלְכִים לְתֻמָּם.

and went with whole hearts

וְרָאוּ כְּבוֹדֶךָ

and saw Your Divine honor

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּהְיוֹת הַבֹּקֶר:

on the third day in the morning.

בֹּקֶר אָזַר

In the morning he girded himself

כְּגִבּוֹר חֲלָצָיו

as a warrior girds his loins.

וְלַעֲקֹד בְּנוֹ קָדַם.

He first bound his son

וַיִּקַּח מַאֲכֶלֶת לְשׁוֹחֲטוֹ

then took a knife to slaughter him,

וְלֹא־חָשַׁב אָדָם.

without thinking of him as a human being

וַיֹּאמֶר הַיּוֹם אַקְרִיב עוֹלָתִי

and said: “Today I will bring my offering

וְאֶזְרֹק דַּם־זִבְחִי

and sprinkle the blood of my sacrifice.”

לֹא יָלִין עַד הַבֹּקֶר:

It will not remain until the morning.

בֹּקֶר רַחֲמֶיךָ נִכְמְרוּ

In the morning Your mercy was aroused

עַל־בֵּן יָחִיד

on the only son

וְעָלָיו זָרָחוּ.

and that mercy shone upon him.

וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָה,

An angel of Adonoy called to him

אֶל־הַנַּעַר יָדַיִם אַל־יְשֻׁלָּחוּ.

and said not to harm the lad

כִּי בְיִצְחָק

because in Isaac

יִקָּרֵא־לְךָ זָרַע.

will Your seed be perpetuated,

וְזִכְרוֹ לְדוֹרוֹת

[and the merit of this event] will be remembered for all generations,

הַנִּיחוּ לָכֶם לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת

it will remain as a safe-keeping for you

עַד־הַבֹּקֶר:

until the morning.³Until the redemption which is analogous to morning.

בֹּקֶר

In the morning

כּוֹשְׁרוֹ וְיוֹשְׁרוֹ וְצִדְקוֹ

his⁴Isaac’s. propriety and righteousness

יָלִיץ בְּעַד־עַם אֵלֶיךָ קָרַב.

will benefit the people who pray to You

וְאַפְרוֹ תָּמִיד יֵרָאֶה לְפָנֶיךָ

and his ashes will always be seen before You

לְכַבְּסָם הֶרֶב.

to cleanse them from their sins.

תִּנָּתֵן לָהֶם נַפְשָׁם בִּשְׁאֵלָתָם

Grant them their lives which is their request,

כִּי לְךָ נִכְסָפָה.

because it is You Whom they desire.

וּבָעֶרֶב הִיא בָאָה

In the evening they come to You in prayer

וּבַבֹּקֶר:

and also in the morning.

בֹּקֶר קוֹלָם שְׁמַע

Harken to their voices in the morning

וּתְכַפֵּר עֲווֹנוֹתֵיהֶם.

and atone their iniquities.

וְעֵרֶךְ תְּפִלָּתָם תֵּחָשֵׁב

Consider the order of their prayers

כְּעֵרֶךְ קָרְבְּנוֹתֵיהֶם.

like the order of the sacrifices.

לָקְחוּ וּבָאוּ

They come with the merits

בְּזִכְרוֹן צִדְקַת אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם.

of the righteousness of their ancestors.

וְהֵם הֵבִיאוּ אֵלָיו

And also bring to Him

עוֹד נְדָבָה בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר:

their contributions of prayer every morning.

בֹּקֶר תֵּפֶן אֵלֵינוּ לְרַחֲמֵנוּ

In the morning turn to us and have mercy

וְרַחֲמֶיךָ עָלֵינוּ יִכָּמְרוּ.

and let Your mercy be aroused upon us.

וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצוּלוֹת־יָם

Cast to the depths of the sea

כָּל־חַטֹּאתֵינוּ

all our sins

וְלֹא יִזָּכְרוּ.

and let them not be remembered.

צוּר הַעֲבֵר עֲווֹנֵנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ.

Lord, our Rock, pass our sins from before You

וְלֹא־יַשְׁאִירוּ מִמֶּנּוּ

and let them not remain before You

עַד־בֹּקֶר:

until the morning.

אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ.

Almighty! King!

יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים.

Who sits on the throne of mercy,

מִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת.

governs with kindness

מוֹחֵל עֲו‍ֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ.

forgives the iniquities of His people.

מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן.

He removes their sins one by one,

מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים

increasing forgiveness to sinners,

וּסְלִיחָה לְפוֹשְׁעִים.

and pardon to transgressors.

עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת

Acting righteously

עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וָרֽוּחַ.

with all who are of flesh and spirit;

לֹא כְרָעָתָם

not according to their wickedness

תִּגְמוֹל:

does He repay them.

אֵל

Almighty!

הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר

You instructed us to recite

שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the thirteen Divine attributes;

וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ הַיּוֹם

remember unto us this day

בְּרִית שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made them known

לֶעָנָו מִקֶּֽדֶם.

to the humble Moses of old,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב

as it is written,

וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּֽעָנָן

“And Adonoy descended in the cloud,

וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם

and stood with him there,

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:

and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses];

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד וֶֽאֱמֶת:

and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth.

נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד

Keeper of kindness

לָאֲלָפִים

for thousands of generations,

נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע

Endurer of iniquity, and transgression,

וְחַטָּאָה

and sin;

וְנַקֵּה:

and Acquitter of those who repent.”

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲו‍ֹנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ

“And pardon our iniquity and our sin,

וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:

and take us for Your inheritance.”

סְלַח לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ.

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,

מְחַל לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי פָשָֽׁעְנוּ:

forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.

כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי

“For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.”

פותחין הארון:

The Ark is opened.

אַל תָּבֹא בְּמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּנוּ

Do not enter into judgment with us

כִּי לֹא יִצְדַּק לְפָנֶֽיךָ כָּל חָי:

for no living soul will be justified before You.¹Psalms 143:2.

וְהוּא יִשְׁפֹּט־תֵּבֵל

And He judges the inhabited world

בְּצֶדֶק

with justice;

וּלְאֻמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים:

and the peoples with righteousness.²Psalms 9:9.

צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט

Righteousness and justice

מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ,

are the foundations of Your throne,

חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יְקַדְּמוּ פָנֶיךָ׃

kindness and truth go before Your Presence.³Psalms 89:15.

מִלְּפָנֶיךָ

From before You

מִשְׁפָּטֵנוּ יֵצֵא,

let our judgment come forth;

עֵינֶיךָ תֶּחֱזֶינָה מֵישָׁרִים׃

let Your eyes behold [my] uprightness.⁴Psalms 17:2.

וְתוֹצִיא כָאוֹר

And bring forth as the light

צִדְקֵנוּ

our righteousness,

וּמִשְׁפָּטֵנוּ כַּצָּהֳרָיִם׃

and our judgment as the noonday.⁵Psalms 37:6.

לְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ

For Your judgments

עָמְדוּ הַיּוֹם.

they stand [ready] this day,

כִּי הַכֹּל עֲבָדֶיךָ׃

for they are all Your servants.⁶Psalms 119:91.

כִּי יְהוָה שֹׁפְטֵנוּ

For Adonoy is our judge,

יְהוָה מְחֹקְקֵנוּ

Adonoy is our law-giver;

יְהוָה מַלְכֵּנוּ הוּא יוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ׃

Adonoy is our king, He will deliver us.⁷Isaiah 33:22.

הִנָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵט הָאָרֶץ,

Arise Judge of the earth,

הָשֵׁב גְּמוּל עַל־גֵּאִים׃

repay the arrogant their just reward.⁸Psalms 94:2.

חָלִלָה לְּךָ

It would be sacrilege to ascribe to You

מֵעֲשֹׂת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה,

such an act—

לְהָמִית צַדִּיק עִם־רָשָׁע,

to kill the righteous with the wicked,

וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק כָּרָשָׁע,

and let the righteous fare as the wicked;

חָלִלָה לָּךְ.

it would be sacrilege to ascribe to You—

הֲשֹׁפֵט כָּל־הָאָרֶץ,

[that] the Judge of all the earth

לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט׃

does not act justly.⁹Genesis 18:25.

סוגרין הארון:

The Ark is closed.